Fastener



July 2, 1940.

J. H. MCLAREN 06,536

FASTENER Filed Sept. 23, 1%38 Sheets-Sheet 1 P 2/ U y m j INVENTOR 10/70 66/7151 are/1 July 2, 1940.

J. H. M LAREN 2,206,536

FASTENER 7 Filed Sept. 23, 1938 2 sheets-Sheet 2 V H M INVENTOR Clare/1 ATTORNEY etc.

Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES raranr Iorriciz 5 Claims.

This invention relates to fasteners and particularly to adjustable length fasteners adapted for use in securing expansible envelopes, wrappers, or like articles.

The invention has for its salient object to provide a fastener of the type specified that can be easily and quickly adjusted and fastened and that will be secure and not subject to displacement after the parts have been adjusted to fastening position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener of the .strap and holder type in which the parts to be fastened and strap are so relatively constructed and arranged as to provide for an adjustment between the strap and the holder.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the strap and holder constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the strap positioned beneath the holder before being folded back over itself and secured thereto;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a strap and holder mounted on an envelope and envelope flap and secured in fastened position;

Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a modified form of the invention which provides for a greater expansion of the envelope or article to which the fastener is secured;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the strap and envelope fiap or the article in folded position to shorten the flap and the projecting strap carried thereby; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on lines 66 of Fig. 5.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, there are illustrated a strap to and a holder H which may; if desired, be manufactured and sold separately. The strap I 0 has formed therein a plurality of fold lines designated A, B, C, D, and E. The holder H has formed therein intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof a slot l2 which is of sufficient length to receive the strap Ill. The distance between the slot l2 and the lower edge l3 of the holder is preferably less than the distance between the successive fold lines A, B, As shown in the drawings, the holder H has formed along the upper edge thereof notches l4 and I5, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. The distance between the slot 12 and the upper edge I 6 of the holder is preferably substantially the same as the distance between the successive fold lines on the strap.

It will be understood that the strap I0 is composed of relatively stiff material, and that the purpose of the fold .lines is to facilitate bending at these portionsof the strap rather than at portions intermediate the fold lines.

In Fig. 3, the fastener is shown as mounted on an envelope comprising a main body portion 26 and a fiap 2!, the flap being connected to thebody portion and having formed therein adjacent the upper edge thereof fold lines 22. It will be understood without further description or illustration that the envelope may be of any desired form or shape and may have a gusset formed at the endsv thereof or, if desired, may have the front and back of theenvelope connected by the well-known bellows type of expansible connection.

The strap is secured in any suitable manner to the flap 2 l,.and the holder II has its end portions secLu'ed to the front of the envelope 20. In order to close andfasten the flap, the flap is passedheneath the holder in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and the end of the flap is then bent backwardly and passed upwardly through the slot E2 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. It will be evident frorninspection of this figure that the fastener will securely fasten the flap to the front of the envelope. Any upward pull on the flap will be taken by the fold line at the bottom of the folded strap, and since the next adjacent fold line above the bottom of the folded strap is positioned behind or in the rear of the portion of the holder above the slot, the strap cannot be released or pulled out.

However, such an upward pull on the strap may tend to force the portion of the strap between the slot and the bottom of the holder outwardly away from the holder and tend to bend the portion of the holder above the slot outwardly about the upper edge of the holder as a pivot. Such a distortion of the holder would force the upper edge of the holder into the fold line E in Fig. 3, and in this manner would tend to prevent any Withdrawal of the strap from the slot. The action of the upright pull on the strap above described and of the movement of the portion of the holder above the slot I 2 due to this upright pull is partially caused by the notches M and I5 which aid in the locking action that prevents withdrawal of the stra from the holder.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the strap is formed on or secured to the lower edge 25 of part 26 which may consist of the flap of an envelope. This form of the invention was particularly developed for envelopes having a wide latitude of expansion.

The portion or flap 26 has formed therein fold lines 2! and 28, the distance between the edge 25 and the fold line 21 being equal to the distance between the fold lines 21 and 28, or not greater than said distance.

The flap 26 has formed therein a slit 29 having substantially the same length as the width of the strap and being positioned in vertical alignment with the strap.

When the envelope having the flap 26 thereon is not expanded to any material extent, the lower portion of the flap 26 between the lower edge 25 and the fold line 21 is folded backwardly and upwardly against the portion of the flap between the fold lines 21 and 28. The strap is then passed through the slit 29 and extends downwardly. The strap can then be passed under the holder H and secured in the manner above described.

When the envelope having the flap 26 thereon has been expanded to a material extent, thus causing the flap to moye'upwardly on the front face of the envelope, the lower portion of the flap is unfolded or used in the manner shown in Fig. 4, with the strap extending downwardly from the lower edge 25.

From the foregoing specification, it will be clear that a simple, practical, and eflicient fastener has been designed, and that the fastener can be easily and quickly adjusted and secured in position, and when fastened will securely hold the connected parts against separation.

7 Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modification, and that changes in construction and in the arrangement or" the cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fastener for adjustably securing two parts together and comprising a strap adapted to be secured to and extend from one part and having a plurality of parallel, transverse fold lines and a holder adapted to be secured at its ends to the other part in a position alined with the strap,

said holder having a slot intermediate the longitudinal edges of the holder and of suflicient length to receive the strap.

2. A fastener for adjustably securing two parts together and comprising a strap adapted to be secured to and extend from one part and having a plurality of parallel, transverse fold lines and a holder adapted to be secured at its ends to the other part in a position alined with the strap, said holder having a slot intermediate the longitudinal edges of the holder and of sufficient length to receive the strap, the distance between the slot and the bottom edge of the holder being less than the distance between the successive parallel fold lines in the strap.

3. A fastener for adjustably securing two parts together and comprising a strap adapted to be secured to and extend from one part and having a plurality of parallel, transverse fold lines and a holder adapted to be secured at its ends to the other part in a position alined with the strap, said holder having a slot intermediate the longitudinal edges of the holder and of sufficient length to receive the strap, the distance between the slot and the top edge of the holder being substantially equal to the distance between successive fold lines on the strap.

4. A fastener for adjustably securing two parts together and comprising a strap adapted to be secured to and extend from one part and having a plurality of parallel, transverse fold lines and a holder adapted to be secured at its ends to the other part in a position alined with the strap, said holder having a slot intermediate th longitudinal edges of the holder and of sufficient length to receive the strap, the distance between the slot and the bottom edge of the holder being less than the distance between the successive parallel'fold lines in the strap and the distance between the slot and the top edge of the holder being substantially equal to the distance between successive fold lines on the strap.

5. In an expansible envelope or the like having a main body portion and a flap portion adapted to be releasably secured together; a fastener for adjustably securing the two portions together, comprising a strap adapted to be secured to and extend from one part and having a plurality of parallel, transverse fold lines and a holder adapted to be secured at its ends to the other part in a positionalined with the strap, said holder having a slot intermediate the longitudinal edges of the holder and of suificient.

length to receive the strap.

JOHN H. MCLAREN. 

